Oregon is home to the beautiful Crater Lake National Park, the Cascade Mountains, and some incredible solar rebates and incentives. Homeowners in the Beaver State are going solar and saving money on their electricity bills, all while conserving their natural environment.
The best way to compare your solar options and save money at the same time is by registering on the EnergySage Marketplace. When you compare quotes for solar panels on EnergySage's competitive solar marketplace, you can expect to see prices up to 20% lower than working with a single solar company. Read our updated article on the cost of solar panels to compare solar costs across states and by panel brand.
What are the best Oregon solar tax credits and rebates?
Oregon residents have access to significant state and utility rebates that reduce the cost of installing a home solar energy system. You can grow your 20-year solar savings when you take advantage of these solar incentives and rebates in Oregon:
Oregon residential energy tax credit
Homeowners who installed solar panels prior to December 31, 2017 were eligible for a credit on your Oregon state taxes to help recover expenses. The credit was valued at $1.70 per watt (W) of installed capacity, up to $6,000. However, this tax credit expired at the end of 2017.
Solar electric incentive rebate program
If you’re a customer of Portland General Electric (PGE) or Pacific Power, you’re eligible for Oregon’s solar electric incentive program, which pays you an upfront rebate of either $1,200 (PGE) or $900 (Pacific Power). To be eligible, you need to own your system and work with an approved Energy Trust solar trade ally contractor.
Other Oregon solar benefits to help you save
Local and municipal utility rebates
Even if you aren’t in PGE or Pacific Power’s service territory, there are plenty of local solar rebates available in Oregon that can help you offset the cost of going solar. These are just a few:
- In Eugene, the Eugene Water and Electric Board will pay $0.40/W to solar homeowners with a maximum rebate amount of $2,500.
- If you’re a customer of Salem Electric, you can receive a rebate equal to $300 per kW installed, up to the lesser of 50% of project costs or $1,500.
Net metering in Oregon
Thanks to Oregon’s net metering policies, you’ll receive full credit on your utility electric bills for the extra electricity that your solar panels generate. When you make more power than you use, you can “bank” it with your utility and draw from it later when you need extra electricity to cover your usage.
The federal solar tax credit
Don’t forget about federal solar incentives! With the investment tax credit (ITC), now referred to as the Residential Clean Energy Credit for residential systems, you can reduce the cost of your PV solar energy system by 30 percent. Keep in mind that the ITC applies only to those who buy their PV system outright (either with a cash purchase or a solar loan), and that you must have enough income for the tax credit to be meaningful (unless you’re a tax-exempt entity, in which case you might be eligible for a direct payment).
